For the whites of every two eggs, take a quarter of a pound of sifted loaf sugar. Some use only one egg for this quantity of sugar.
Make the eggs cold in cold water, and free them from all of the yolk. Beat the whites in a cool place, till a very stiff froth. Sift the sugar, and beat it in _until you can pile it in a heap_. Flavor with lemon or rose water. Allow two whites for each common-sized loaf. Spread on with a knife, after the cake is cool, and then smooth with another knife dipped in water. Set it in a warm place to dry. The ornamental filagree work on frosting is easily done by using a small syringe. Draw it full of the above frosting, and as you press it out make figures to your taste. It must not be put on till the frosting of the cake is hardened.
_Cake Frosting_ (_another, which is harder_).
To the white of each egg, put one heaping teaspoonful of starch, and nine heaping teaspoonfuls of sifted white sugar.
Cut the whites to a stiff froth, mix the sugar and starch, and stir in gradually; continue to stir ten minutes after it is mixed, add two teaspoonfuls of lemon juice, and flavor it with rose water. Put it on with a knife when the cake has stood out of the oven twenty minutes, and then set it in a cool place to harden. Allow the whites of three eggs for two cakes of common size.
The juice and grated rind of a lemon, or one nutmeg.
Half a cup of melted butter, put with the molasses.
A teaspoonful of saleratus in two spoonfuls of hot water.
Work all together, put into buttered pans, and set into the oven immediately.
Put in the lemon juice just before you put it in the pans.
If you do not have lemon juice, add a great spoonful of sharp vinegar, after working the ingredients together, and just before putting it into pans. The lemon juice must be added the last minute. Some think this is improved by standing to rise fifteen minutes. Try and see.
Half a cup of warm water, the butter melted with it.
A small teaspoonful of pearlash, dissolved in the water.
The dough should be stiff; knead it well, and roll into sheets, cut into round cakes, and bake in a moderate oven.
Three well-beaten eggs, mixed with the sugar and butter.
Half a cup of warm milk, or a little less.
One teaspoonful of saleratus in two great spoonfuls of water, and put in the milk.